This was my first Horrid Henry book and I wasn’t sure what to expect. This is a book with short little stories, but makes the kids feel like they are reading a chapter book. My daughter is 7 and I would say it’s perfect for her age.

I thought it was a fun read, but it wasn’t one that I really loved and I think it’s hard for me to review it because I’m an adult and I don’t see it the same way as children. As an adult it wasn’t the most fun for me to read. I was constantly cringing at Horrid Henry’s behavior because it truly was horrid. But I enjoyed some of his escapades and the kids seem to think it was pretty funny.

While I didn’t love the example it set for my kids I did feel it opened up an opportunity to talk to them about their behavior and what is appropriate. And Horrid Henry usually got what was coming to him, his impulsive naughty ways had consequences and that’s what made this book okay for me. I could tell my kids, see, he thought it would be like this, but when you act naughty then bad things happen. So in the end I’ve decided I’m okay with my kids reading them, but prefer to read the books with the kids so I can remind them that that behavior is not okay.

Disclosure: I received this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

The folks at Sourcebooks are giving away the following books to one lucky person. This giveaway is open to US only.

You must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends 11/4/12

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown

A ghost will find his way home.

Jennie Lovell’s life is the very picture of love and loss. First she is orphaned and forced to live at the mercy of her stingy, indifferent relatives. Then her fiancé falls on the battlefield, leaving her heartbroken and alone. Jennie struggles to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, but is haunted by a mysterious figure that refuses to let her bury the past.

A Bad Day for Voodoo by Jeff Strand

When your best friend is just a tiny bit psychotic, you should never actually believe him when he says, “Trust me. This is gonna be awesome.”Of course, you probably wouldn’t believe a voodoo doll could work either. Or that it could cause someone’s leg to blow clean off with one quick prick. But I’ve seen it. It can happen.And when there’s suddenly a doll of YOU floating around out there—a doll that could be snatched by a Rottweiler and torn to shreds, or a gang of thugs ready to torch it, or any random family of cannibals (really, do you need the danger here spelled out for you?)—well, you know that’s just gonna be a really bad day …

Horrid Henry and the Zombie Vampire and Horrid Henry’s Monster Movie

Henry is up to his usual mischief. Four new stories in which Horrid Henry terrorizes his classmates at a school sleepover in the museum; plays with Perfect Peter and tricks him into handing over all his money; gets out of writing his own story for Miss Battle-Axe by adapting one of Peter’s; and meets the Nudie Foodie, a celebrity chef, who comes to the school to improve school dinners. No more burgers! No more chips! “Kids will love reading the laugh-out-loud funny stories about someone whose behavior is even worse than their own.” -School Library Journal “Not since ‘Nate the Great’ has an early reader series created such a buzz.” -Los Angeles Times “Will engage even the most reluctant readers.”-Publishers Weekly

About Candace

Candace is an eclectic reader that loves young adult and adult books. She also reviews children's and middle grade books because she's the mother of two children. She's been blogging since 2008 and is also the owner and operator of CBB Book Promotions.

Comments

Ah, very nice Halloween post! I do love the cutsie, “creepy” kid books. They’re so much fun! Hope you have a fantastic (notice I resisted the impulse to say “spooktacular”…) Halloween aka “Free Candy Day”!

True, Henry does have consequences for his bad behavior which is important for the young kids reading his books. I like the stories a bit (the ones I’ve read) but you’re right, the humor and fun of them seems to be more of a child thing.

What I love about reading with my kids–and why I disapprove of banning books–is because you can teach so much more by looking at the bad things people do and discussing them than if you never read them at all and never had a serious discussion with your parents about them. Kudos to you for being a great mom.